Telford 0 Gloucester 1 - Report and pictures

Visiting sub Harry Williams' winner sees Telford cut adrift at the bottom of the National League North by five points.

In a pulsating clash with drop zone rivals Gloucester, 0-0 hardly did it justice with chances galore, particularly in a nervy second period.

Richard Peniket, making his home debut, had the ball in the Gloucester net within the opening moments, after Jack Rea had helped a header back in the area but was correctly pulled up for offside.

The hosts had started well and encouraged the New Bucks Head crowd with early work.

The returning Darren Campion set up Rea from 30 yards and his first-time drilled strike stung the palms of goalkeeper Jasbir Singh.

AFC Telford United: Burgoyne, Samuels, Campion (Brownhill 50), Hutchison, Deaman, Austin, Clancy, Rea (Rowe 76), Tonks, Peniket (Reid 60), Hibbert.

Unused: Grogan, Dawson.

Gloucester: Singh, Green, Jones, Cundy, Avery, Hall (E Williams 78), Webb, Knowles, Anoruo (Parker 58), Hopper (H Williams 72), Hanks

Gloucester created their first sighter of note when Chris Knowles headed a Lewis Hall cross towards goal but debutant Harry Burgoyne was equal to it at the stretch.

More industry from Sean Clancy seemed to have set in Dave Hibbert, with the whole of the Gloucester half to himself he opted to take the volleyed lob on from 40 yards but Singh backtracked to deal with it.

Tom Tonks' long throw caused danger for the first time as Graham Hutchison flicked on towards Peniket but brave goalkeeping from Singh kept Telford at bay.

Telford clearest came after 20 minutes and through the guile of the lively Austin, the youngster used his low centre of gravity to turn and chip a ball through to Clancy, whose left-sided drive was parried by Singh.

New Bucks Head was again celebrating convinced that the hosts had taken the lead, but Hibbert was flagged offside from Tonks' centre - it looked a mightily close call from the assistant referee.

The game became a little more stretched over the half hour mark and Burgoyne was forced into action at his own near post, after Hanks had cut it back to Anoruo.

Telford passed up a marvellous opportunity to edge their noses in front as Austin flicked in Peniket who burst free down the right side.

Peniket looked to unselfishly square to partner Hibbert, but the cut-back was just behind the former Shrewsbury Town man.

The Bucks upped the ante and Hibbert's sharp turn and snapshot drew Singh into a low save.

Campion proved his weight in gold in the Bucks' penalty area as an Obi Anoruo dummy looks to play Luke Hopper in.

Hopper turns Deaman easily and bears down on Burgoyne, but Campion is across instantly to superbly intercept.

Austin continued to light up the grey afternoon and a couple of impressive step-overs allowed him to cut inside, before he unleashed a fierce drive over from 30-yards.

Smith's men pressed right until the end of the first-half and Hibbert flashes a cross-come-shot right across Singh's goal.

Clancy wasted a good position early in the second-half after more good work from Austin, firing straight at a Gloucester defender.

Burgoyne endured a couple of nervy moments as first he almost lets a shot squirm away, before not collecting from a corner but the Bucks survive.

Telford grew and took control midway through the half and were unlucky not to go ahead as Hibbert saw his shot from the penalty box somehow cleared from the line.

Moments later, the Bucks were unable to profit from Singh's poor clearance as Clancy was played in on goal but couldn't beat the onrushing goalkeeper who recovered well.

But Gloucester were still alive, and from a corner had Bucks living dangerously, Sam Avery's header was cleared from the line by Deaman before Clancy cleared Knowles' resulting effort in a scramble.

Clancy almost redeemed himself with a stinging 30 yards drive that looked in but flew narrowly wide of Singh's post.

With both sides pressing and just four minutes on the clock, a wonderful Knowles through ball played in sub Williams, who dinked over Burgoyne for the winner.